Pattaya police, army bust 32 foreigners for playing bridge
Source: Bangkok Post
CHON BURI – Nearly three dozen foreigners, many of them pensioners, were arrested and fined 5,000 baht each for playing bridge in Pattaya.
Local police, soldiers and Bang Lamung district officials raided a Jomtien & Pattaya Bridge Club meeting above Alto's restaurant off Thappraya Road in the resort city on Wednesday, taking into custody 32 people, mostly European nationals, and holding them until 3am.
Pattaya police chief Sukthat Pumpunmuang told AFP Thursday the raid was sparked by a member of the public complaining to the government's anti-corruption centre. It was initiated by district officials, local media said, not by Pattaya police.
"The chairman of the bridge club is arguing that they were not gambling (for money)," Pol Col Sukthat said.
Finding score books, but no money, police initially speculated that the foreigners were gambling, but transferring cash later between bank accounts. Bridge club officials tried in vain to explain bridge is played only for points
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/crime/852112/pattaya-cops-bust-32-foreigners-for-playing-bridge
